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Science Labs-in-a-Box

Publisher: Science Labs-in-a-Box, Inc./Science Projects
Review last updated: 2006		 Instant KeyPublishers InfoPricing

Mike Bolinsky originally created Science-Labs-in-a-Box to provide high quality lab experiences to accompany Bob Jones University Press science texts. The labs courses grew out of actual classes taught by Mike for hundreds of homeschoolers in Texas. Now these lab courses have been expanded and refined to work alongside just about any science textbooks from other publishers covering the same science topics. Labs sets are available for about second grade level through high school chemistry and biology—physics is the only traditional course for which there is no lab set.

Students use the science textbook of their choice, then use the lab manual and experiments to complete each course with the exception of Chemistry. Chemistry is the only lab set that also includes a textbook. Students get plenty of practice writing and recording in the student lab manual.

Labs are teacher/parent directed. A Teacher's Edition of the lab manual has additional instructions, explanations, and answers to questions. The teacher will need to prepare in advance, familiarizing him or herself with the objectives and methods of each lab activity as well as setting up the proper equipment.

If you were to use Science Labs-in-a-Box every year, the sets would align something like this:

grade 2 – Topics I
grade 3 – Topics II
grade 4 – General Science I
grade 5 – General Science II
grade 6 – General Science III
grade 7 – Life Science
grade 8 – Earth Science
grade 9 – Physical Science
grade 10 – Biology
grade 11 – Chemistry

Over the years, Science Labs has expanded their offerings to make labs available in three versions for every level except Topics I and II which have only one option. The three versions are standard, deluxe, and short. "The standard course is roughly equivalent to what you will find in typical high school labs.  There are 14 labs which equates to about one lab every other week of a school year including breaks.  The deluxe course is designed for advanced students, students planning on science related fields, college prep students and simply those students that love Science." The deluxe course has 30 labs, about one lab per week. The short course is a "sampler" with six labs that should take about two months to complete.

Each lab set provides enough material for two students. To make it more affordable for small groups, refill kits are available for the standard and deluxe lab courses that will cover additional students at minimal cost. If you have more than four students, you will need another complete lab course.

If you use the deluxe version, students should get more from this combination of high quality lab work and text study than they would in most classrooms. There are a total of 30-32 labs per course, divided into eight separate kits with four lab sessions each.

With deluxe and standard courses, you receive a box with all your equipment and resources every two months—four labs for standard and eight for deluxe courses. Each box contains absolutely everything you need including a prepaid shipping label for returning the equipment you've finished using from the previous box. (Shipping costs are included in the cost of courses.) Because you're using equipment on loan, the equipment is likely far better than you would be able to afford (or would choose to buy) if you had to purchase it yourself. Science Labs tells us, "You receive microscopes, chemicals, dissection specimens and tools, teacher's guides, student workbooks, scales, test tubes, water, tape, return postage, and much, much more with your classes." A deposit is required to insure the return of equipment in good condition.

While this can get expensive, it is unlikely that you can duplicate the experiences using such high quality equipment on your own for less. And if you form groups of student, the cost per student drops dramatically.

Costs for standard courses are $50 per month for Topics I through Physical Science.Biology runs $55/month and Chemistry is $60 per month. Deluxe courses are $85 per month for General Science I through Physical Science, with Biology at $95/month and Chemistry $110/month. Short courses cost single payments of $225 for General Science I through Physical Science, $250 for Biology, and $275 for Chemistry.

Pricing

see review

Instant Key

  • Learning Styles: all
    Suitable for: group or one-on-one
    Audience: high school
    Need for parent/teacher instruction:      high
    Prep time needed:     moderate to high
    Need for Teacher's Manual:  essential/included
    Religious perspective: Christian

Publisher's Info

  • Science Labs-in-a-Box, Inc./Science Projects

    PO Box 1657
    Kyle, TX 78640

    (800) 453-1708
    email: sales.sciencelabs.com
    www.sciencelabs.com